Elder Merrill pranks his family....sheesh

Usually in the morning I turn on the computer and then throughout the day, in the bottom right corner, I will see a brief message when an email comes in. You know, where it gives the sender's  name and then 2 or 3 words from the subject line. So I had come upstairs to put some laundry away and I see that little alert box come up and I glance over to see "Elder Ethan Merrill" and so I'm all "YES!!" and then I see the words "I'm coming home" just as the alert box disappears. I am here to tell you, we moms can do some incredible amounts of sheer panic/freaking out, all without saying a single word. I am pretty sure I came up with at least 274 different scenarios in the agonizing 90 seconds or so it took me to log into my email - pretty sure my blood pressure hit an all new high - may have stopped breathing for a bit, yeah......

That's right,  you heard me right. I'm coming home..........3 weeks earlier than expected.  Instead of coming home around March 14th, I'll be arriving home around February 25th.  This is due to the many missionaries who want to serve missions, visas, and a whole bunch of other stuff with the announcement from President Monson.  The assistants to the President wanted to have your email so you could see for yourself, so I'm going to give it to them today and we'll see if they send you an E-mail. But yeah....I'm coming home slightly sooner than expected.

Now that mom is back to her regular calm and cool nirvana-like state, we can continue with the rest of the letter...and find out he is in a new area!

I also got transferred to a new area! I'm in a place called Carlos Casares.  Funny enough, we got rain on our first day here (I'm seeing a pattern with rain and moving to new areas.....)This is, in all honesty, the hottest part of the mission. Like, this is where the last mission president sent unfaithful missionaries to suffer and burn.  Then there is the water. They put arsenic in it. As in the poison.  So we CANNOT drink it.  We have to jump out of the shower if it starts to turn funny colors too. But don't fret. We're doing good for having gotten through this first day.  Our house is like 100 years old and falling apart and it leaks when it rains. But my room is where the house is in the best condition and we have a fan for the night, so we are doing good.

Not sure whether to laugh or cringe! Elder Merrill is definitely going to have some interesting adventures ahead of him!

Enough about the unnatural lifestyle I live. I always enjoy hearing about the little stuff from home. I can see a couple of stars here like you, but I haven't had much success identifying what constellations or planets I'm seeing. It's still a cool way to spend the night, looking on stars on the roof. And it's so much better than being in the house, as it's cooler outside than inside.
Tell everyone I miss them and wish them a Merry Christmas. I'll let you know how it goes here.  We will go to the central office of our mission (Bahia Blanca) for a "party" of some sort on the 18th but we have to work Christmas day. How weird is that? Well I sure do love you guys, I'll see you when I get home (which is 3 weeks earlier) and until then, I hope you have an awesome week!           Elder Ethan Merrill

Quiet Week in Bolivar

On our local radio station they have this silly song they sing on Fridays ~ "Friday, Friday, Friday is my favorite day...~ but for me, it's Mondays when we get our next letter from Elder Ethan Merrill. Woohoo! First, a weather update:
 Hey there! Happy December!! Nothing really new here besides a new month though.  There was a crazy storm yesterday! There was rain and thunder like you wouldn't believe! I couldn't believe how much of a storm we were getting!

Then we had asked if they had any decorations to put for the holiday:
 Lol, we did put up some Christmas decorations of our own. It's a tree about a foot high and with some decorations hanging on it.  It's so hard to get into the Christmas Spirit without the cold.  But I imagine it would be hard for the people in Argentina to get into the Christmas spirit without the heat!  Thanks for sending me the box {please let it get there!!!! some goodies and of course a new tie for Christmas, lol}.  Thank Sis. Brandt for the $20!

We had told him that several of Dad's co-workers had been laid off but that his bosses has told him he would stay because of his great ability to do multiple jobs, get along with others and work diligently.  I said those were qualities I often saw in Elder Merrill as well:
I'm happy that dad is keeping his job. If I have any of those traits, it's because he taught them to me.  I try to be a good companion and not get frustrated, even if they do things that tick me off sometimes. I try to focus on the good things really. Patience really is a helpful attribute with the mission.
I promise to work hard always! This week has been a little rough for us...plans fallen through and stuff like that...but I try to stay positive. I pray for you guys every day and even though I won't be home for Christmas, I'm always thinking of you!               Elder Ethan Merrill

As always son, you will be in our prayers and hearts constantly! Still my hero!

Wrapping up November 2012

So we are winding down the month of November and waiting to here how Elder Merrill's week has gone.  Here is part of his letter from Nov. 26th:

 I'm good here! I'm trying a new way to write you guys letters at this website.  It's a new thing, so I can read the letter you sent and write you one at the same time.  I hope things have been going good for you.  I know it's probably a little weird with me away from home and Jess & Brad being married, but just know that I am with you guys in spirit!

I have no idea what I'm gonna do for Christmas...we may just stay inside, eat and tell stories.  Or go to the park, I don't know.  What I wouldn't do for some cool weather.  I think I am more used to the heat now but it's so wei rd to have Christmas in the summer.

We had asked in our last letter what they did on Thanksgiving:

We didn't do much for thanksgiving, it was a normal day really.  I'm fine with that, it's not like everyone else was celebrating the holiday because it doesn't exist here.  We (the missionaries) didn't have the day off.  The Argentines have today off though but that means that most of the places we would go to write mail were closed.  We just barely found a place to write you today!

We asked about the people they were working with too and how that was going:

Our investigators are doing good! We have a commitment with one to stop smoking by the beginning of Christmas. That will be a nice Christmas gift, if we can have a baptism!  With all the others, it's just teaching them still step by step.
I can't believe that Heather ( a girl from school/seminary we know) got her mission call to Argentina! (The Salta mission).  And everyone else getting ready to go out on there missions too! Thanks for always telling me about how life is back home. You always have good words to keep me going and I love you all! Bye

Elder Merrill, I assure you, you uplift and inspire us and we love you dearly! We are glad to here that he is doing well physically and spiritually. 

Thanksgiving Week Part II - Unexpected Surprise

So I just happened to be upstairs at the computer on Monday when Elder Ethan Merrill's latest email popped up. So quick as a wink, I sent off a little reply, just in case he happened to still be logged in.  Here is the following exchange:

Mom: - Hi son!!! Your email just popped up so I'm gonna say HI and WE LOVE YOU!!! And have a GREAT WEEK!!!  love you lots! :) Mom

Elder Merrill -  LOVE YOU TOO! HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!

Mom - HOORAY!!! I will stop after this one because I know your time is limited, but it is totally AWESOME that we just happen to be on the computer at the same time! Good luck with your investigators this week and know that we are always keeping you in our hearts!  I'll have to take a picture of cardboard Elder Merrill with us this week, I haven't done that since the wedding, lol.  Take care son, we do love you so very much! oxox Love, Mom

Elder Merrill - Thanks for writing me.  This is as close as it comes to a phone call on the mission.  Thanks for always writing me, it's always a boost to get me through the week.  I have to go to work soon yeah, but I want to thank you all for being such an awesome family! Remember, if you want to send me a package, send it about a month in advance of when you want me to receive it and it should come in time.  If you need the address again, I'll send it to you.  Love you Mom!

Mom - I KNOW, I love it! Yep, I am planning the next package now and hope to get it in the mail in the next week.  Thank you son for being such an awesome son and missionary.  You write us GREAT letters too and we love hearing from you.  Say hi to your comp for us and take care! Love you SO MUCH! Love Mom

Elder Merrill - Awesome!  Hmm, put some twix in there if that's ok.  I don't know how chocolate will do going to another country, but we don't exactly have candy that's normal.  Or good for that matter! But we do have oreos, so that's fun.  I like the story about Sparky, but Kyle told me that Blacky may have died. Man...at least we still have one cat left.  There are SO many dogs and cats here on the streets.

Mom - Yeah, I decided not to do chocolate because it will probably melt.  Yes, poor Blacky has been gone for almost a month so that's not good. But that is the risk of being an outdoor cat and she was never gonna be an indoor cat.  Is there another candy you like...starburst or sweet-tarts or something non-meltable? Yep, Sparky is still as crazy as ever. She REALLY likes her ice cubes and is always trying to steal mine and now, when someone gets ice from the kitchen freezer she will come running and you have to put a piece in her bowl of water. CRAZY! oxoxo

Elder Merrill - Aw. Well, that's fine.  Yeah, just whatever seems good to put in a package.  Starbursts are good but I'm not that into sweet-tarts really.  Whatever seems good to you. Send me some nerds if you can and whatever else.  Hmmm, how's Kyle doing with school and his senior year?

Mom - Ok, will definitely put somehting yummy in for you.  Do you want more PB at all? Kyle is doing really great with his grades this year, so that is good. Too many girls texting him ALL the time but overall he is doing good.  Dad just texted and said to tell you hi and he loves you too! Says stay cool and safe and thanks for your great work! Gosh, this is so COOL! What a great blessing that we are able to write like this today! Love you LOTS son!

Elder Merrill - Hey sweet! Yeah, put in some more peanut butter! Lol, that's typical with Kyle. Yeah, I'm having a small email chat with dad now too. If you want to send me one more email, I don't have much time left. Boy do I have a lot of walking to do for a P-day afternoon. I'll reply and then I'll go. Love you!

Mom - HOORAY that dad got to "talk" with you too! It's ok if you run out of time and can't answer anymore, it has just been an absolute joy to talk with you like this, an unexpected gift and one we treasure.  Hpoe your feet and shoes are holding up well, lol. Great, I will send more PB, that will be fun to do. Keep hydrated!! Enjoy your day and know that we truly do keep you in our hearts and thoughts always and that we pray for you and your companion several times a day. I love you very much son! You are MY HERO and a tremendous blessing! WOOHOO! Love you! Mom

Elder Merrill - I get to reply! I'm gonna go after this though. Thanks for always thinking of me! My shoes and thirst are both good! I am so stoked that I got to have a chat like this! I know that while I have a long way to go still, I'll see you all again at the end of it.  Have an awesome week and I'll see you again next Monday. Love to all! Bye!

Thanksgiving Week Part I

Monday is here and we are waiting to get our next note from Elder Merrill and here how the mission is going and how he is doing.  It is Thanksgiving this week and we are hoping that he is not feeling homesick but is able to feel good about his service as a missionary.  Here is his weekly update:

Hi mom! How are you? Well, like you may have figured out, nothing really too new here.  We hope to have another baptism at the end of the week, so we'll see how that goes.  I got caught in the rain two days ago and it felt pretty good after being in the heat.  It's not too hot now, but when December rolls around it might be just a little more hotter.
Yeah, we may not have a thanksgiving day here, but on that day we will see if we can go to a buffet here in town.  That will be good (but only if the food is good I suppose!).  We cleaned the apartment today because we have the zone leaders coming tomorrow, so everything needs to be all neat and tidy for that. Or more than usual I suppose.
I will miss not being able to play Halo 4 SUPER BAD! But, it will always be there when I get back. The mission is really slipping by. P-day today was over and gone so fast, I couldn't believe it! That's a good thing. How is everyone doing? I know that you all have your own things to do but it will be good to sit down as a family again and get together for the holiday.  Save a seat for me! I wish I could be there with you all but I can't right now.
Just know that I give up being with my family for 2 years so other families can be together for eternity!

I thought that last statement was the sweetest and best thing Elder Merrill has said yet! It is definitely hard for these young men and women to sacrifice their personal time and comforts and yet they do so with such willing hearts and with great faith and they develop a sincere love for the people they get to interact with and work with and teach.  It is hard for us as parents to give them up and yet we know they grow and become better people for this time. So while it is a hard thing to do, it is also a choice we rejoice in being able to make and we know we are blessed in many ways for this.  Love you son!